Signaling apparatus



June l0 ,l 1924.-

-P. H. MINTON .s IGNALING/ APPARATUS Filed June 23, 1922 INVENTOR. ZZ/W,

ATToRNEYs jwlH/Jf BY f Patented .lune l0, 1924.

raarste rrcE .PAUL H. MINTON, OF CHATHAM, NEW JERSEY.

sIGNAiING APPARATUS.

Application filed June 23, 1922. Serial. No. 579,434.

T0 all fw hom t may concern Be it known that I, PAUL H. MrNtroN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Chatham, in the county ofMorris and State of El ew Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulimprovements in Signaling` Apparatus; and I do hereby declare 'thefollowing to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainstomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates, generally, to electric signaling apparatus; andthe invention has reference, more particularly, to an automaticannunciator for heating units, such as furnaces, etc., adapted tocommunicate an audible signal to denote the need of replenishing thefuel supply of said heating unit.

The invention has for its principal object to provide an automaticsignaling apparatus which will `give a suitable warning to attendantswhen it is necessary to replenish the fuel supply of a heating unit withwhich the device is associated, thus rendering it unnecessary forattendants to keep close watch upon the heating unit, and making itimpossible for the heating unit, without due warning, to lack properattention, because of forgetfulness or neglect upon the part ofattendants.

The inventionv has for a further object to provide a simple andautomatically controlled audible signal, adapted to give its signalsaccording to the condition ofthe heating unit` that is, the signalapparatus will give a signal if fuel is required by the heating unitafter a period of idling under closed drafts, and will also give asignal if fuel is required during the effective working periods of theheating unit when under draft.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularlyenumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detaileddescription of the same.

lilith the various objects of the invention in view, the same consists,primarily, in the novel automatic electricv signaling apparatus for thepurposes set forth;l and, the invention consists, furthermore, in thenovel mechanical and electrical arrangements and combinations of theseveral devices and parts, as well as in the details of the constructionof the same, all of which will be more fully described in the followingspecification. and then finally embodied in the claims appended thereto.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure l is a plan view of the bell signal devicesof .theapparatus; Figure 2 is a plan view of the draft damper controlled switchdevice; and Figure 3 is a planelevation of the thermostatic switchdevice; said Figures l, 2 and 3 being interconnect-ed by` a ,wiringdiagram, illustrating the various circuits ofthe apparatus asa whole.

Figure Ll is a side elevation of the draft damper controlled switchdevice; and Fig ure 5 is a part top edge elevation and part sectionvthrough the same.

Figure 6 is a face view of the stationary contact carrying element ofthe thermostatic switch device.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of the bell signaldevices.

Similar characters of referenceare em ployed in all of thehereinafterdesf'ribed views. to indicate corresponding parts.

yReferring' now to saiddrawings, the reference character l indicates thebase of the bell signal device. Mounted upon said base at its left handupper side is a bell 2 supported upon a post 3; this' bell 2 serves asthe signal which is operative-when' yfuel is needed by the heating unitduring the working period of the latter, i. e., when `the same isworking` .under open drafts'.

is a bell t supported upon a 'post 5; this bell it serves as the signalwhich is operative when fuel is needed by the heating unit during theidling period of the latter, i. e., when the same is idling under closeddrafts. Mounted upon the base beneath the bell 2 is aleft handelectroanagnet 6, and beneath the bell et is a right handlelectro-magnet 7. Secured to la suitable supporting post 8 is a flat'spring mounting strip 9, upon the upper end of which is fixed anarma-ture 10, which plays between the electro-magnets 6 and 7.'Extending upwardly from the free end of said'armature 1() is abell-clapper 11, having at its free end an upwardly projecting ar1n-12.Fixed on the base 1k is la bracket 13 in which is mounted an adjustingscrew 1li. Interposed between said adjusting .screw le and, the @11d et.Seid 'arm l2 Mounted ,upon said base at its righthand upper side 1.1,b-fl is a U-shaped spring 15, which tends to hold the bell clapper 11and associated parts to- Ward either one bell or the other according tothe position or the armature 10, which is initially movable eithertoward the magnet 6 or magnet 7, as the case may be. Supported at oneside of said bracket 13 is a circuit make and break means serving thebell 2, the same comprising a stationary contact arm 16 and a resilientmovable contact arm 17, the latter having at its loiver end an ott-setprojection 18 engageable by said arm 12 ot the bell-clapper 11. ln likemanner, supported at the opposite side of said bracket 13 is a circuitmake and break means serving the bell 4, the same also comprising astationary contact arm 19 and a resilient movable contact arm 20` thelatter having at its lovver end an off-set projection 21 engageable bysaid arm 12 ci' the bell clapper 11. The respective posts 3 and 5 formounting the bells 2 and 4 are secured by oit-center or eccentricallyrelated attaching screws, respectively 22 and 23, which enter the bottomot said posts, so that by turning the posts the bells may be readilyadjusted relative to the bell' clapper 11. Supported by a bracket 24,beneath the electro-magnet 6, is a magnet circuit make and break meansserving said magnet 6, the same comprising a stationary contact arm 25and a resilient movable contact arm 26, the latter having at its upperend an ottset projection 27 engageable by the armature 10. In likemanner, supported by a bracket 28, beneath the electromagnct 7, is amagnet circuit make and break means serving said magnet 7, the samecomprising a stationary contact arm 29 and a lresilient movable-contactarm 30, the latter having at its upper end an oli-set projection 31engageable by the armature 10. At the lower end of the base 1 arearranged at one side a pair of binding posts 32 and 33, and at the otherside are arranged another pair ot binding posts 34 and 35. Intermediatethe above mentioned pairs of binding posts is a single binding post 36.The binding post 32 is connected by a suitable conductor 37 With thestationary arm 16 of the ma te and break device serving the bell 2, thecircuit being completed at proper times through the movable arm 17 andits projection 18, the arm 12, bell clapper 11, armature 10, and thencethrough said movable arm y26 and its projection 27 by Way of a suitableconductor 38 to the magnet 6, and thence by the conductor 39 to thebinding post 36. The binding post 33 is connected by a suitableconductor 40 Withv the stationary arm 25 ofthe make and break servingthe niagnet 6, the circuit being completed through 'themovable arm 26,conductor 38, magnet 6 and kconductor 39 'back to the binding post 86.lThe bindingv post 34 is connectedby a suitabley conductor 41 with thestationary arm 19 of the make and break device serving the bell 4, thecircuit being completed at proper times through the movable arm and itsprojection 21, the arm 12, bell clapper 11, armature 10, and thencethrough said movable arm 30 and its projection 31 by Way of a suitableconductor 42 to the magnet 7, and thence by the conductor 43 to thebinding post 36. The binding post is connected by a suitable conductor44 with the stationary arm 29 of the make and break device serving themagnet 7, the circuit being completed through the movable arm 30,conductor 42, magnet 7 and conductor 43 back to the binding post 36.

The thermostatic Switch device comprises a helical thermostat spring 45adapted to expand or contract when subjected to a rise or tall ottemperature. Connected with said spring 45 is an arm 46 to the tree endot which is fixed a resilient contact brush 47. i-trranged to cooperatewith said contact brush 47 is the stationary circuit closing means,consist-ing ot a suitable base 48 provided with adjustable Contactsnpporting blocks 49 and 50, which are adjustable toivard and away fromeach other by means ol the adjusting screws 51 associated with the sidesof said base 48. The Contact supporting block 49 is provided with threeinsulated contact points 52, 53 and 54, rcspectively connectedelectrically With the binding posts 55, 56 and 57 mounted on said base48. ln like manner the block is provided With a single contact point 58electrically connected with the binding post 59. ln operation theexpansion or contraction (as the case may be) ot the thermostat spring45 will cause the contact brush 47 to travel across the contact points.thereby closing electrical circuits for actuating the signal devicealready above described.

The draft damper controlled switch comprises base 60 upon which ismounted a primary spring sivitch arm 61 and a secondary spring switcharm 62. the latter being spaced outwardly trom the tor-mer. and beingprovided at its tree end with a tip 63 of insulation material wherebyvit may be engaged by the primary switch arm so as to be actuated therebyat proper times, While being nevertheless electrically insulatedtherefrome Said primariY switch arin 6.1is electrically connected with abinding post 64 mounted on the base GO, and. in like manner, thesecondary switch arm 62 is electrically connected With a bindingpost 65mounted on the base 60. ll/[ounted on said base 60 in electricallyinsulated relation to each other are a pair of resilient contact arms 66and a second pair ot resilient contact arms 67 the outer terminals otthe arms 66 being at the proper position to be engageable by' both theswitch arm 61 and 62,

while the outer terminals of the arms 67 are only engageable by theswitch arm 61. The switch arms 66 are electrically connected with abinding post 68 mounted on the base 60, while the switch arms 67 areelectrically connected with a binding post 69 mounted on the base 60. A.normally open push button switch 70 is connected by circuit wires 7,1between said binding post 64 and 69.

ln electrically interconnecting the several devices above described toestablish operative circuits therefor, a source ot electrical energy,such as a battery 72, is provided. From the positive pole of the battery72 cxtends a circuit wire 73 to the thermostat Extending from thebinding post 55 of vthe thermostat contact device to the binding post 68ot' the damper controlled switch device is a circuit wire 74;interconnecting the binding post 56 with the binding post l olf thesignal device is a circuit wire 75; interconnecting the binding post 57with the binding post 35 is a circuit wire 76, interconnecting thebinding post 59 with the binding post of the signal device is a circuitwire 77; the circuit wire 73 is interconnected by the wire 78 with thebinding post 64 or the damper controlled switch, while the binding post69 of the latter is connected by the wire 79 with the circ-uit wire 7 6;the binding post 65 of the damper controlled switch is connected by thecircuit wire 80 with the binding post 38 oli the signal device; and thebinding post 36 ot the signal device is connected to the negative poleof the battery 72 by the circuit wire 81.

In arranging the apparatus for use the thermostat spring 45 is mountedso that it will be subjected to the temperature variations arising fromthe fire-box .of the heating unit, as, for example, by connecting thesame adjacent to or within the smoke pipe ot said heating unit. Thesignal device maj,T be placed in any suitable location as remote fromthc heating unit as may be desired, while the damper controlled switehisso placed as to be cooperatively associated with the usual automaticdamper .regulating or opening and closing means with which the heatingunit is equipped, preterably by interconnecting the tree end of theprimary spring switch 61 to the damper actuating means by means oi acord. pullwire or the like in such a manner that the switch 61 is innormal inwardly disposed position when the dampers ot the heating unitare open, but is automatically moved synchronously with the movement ofthe dampers to outwardly disposed position when the said dampers areclosed.

In operation the apparatus works as fol-y lows:

Assuming that the ,heating Ulli@ is' verle ving, that is to say, thedempers are open and the 'fuel is burning, the thermostat spring 45being then expanded by the heat generated, and the damper controlledswitch being in normal position, that is with the primary switch 61inwardly disposed. Under such circumstances, the fuel of the heatingunit approaching exhaustion, the heat generated will be reduced,producing a tall or temperature operating to contract the thermostatspring 45, thus carrying the brush into circuit closing engagement withthe contact 52. Upon this occurrence the current from the battery willflow and complete its circuit through the parts and wiring of theapparatus indicated by the reference numerals 73, 46, 47, 52, 55, 74,es, ce, c2, e5, so, sa, io, 25, 26, as, c, 39, 36, and 81, therebyenergizes the magnet 6 which will operate to pull the armature 10 towardthe left, to position the bell clapper l1, and the spring device 15 inoperative ringing relation to the signal bell 2, provided the same donot already occupy such position. The circuit thus established isquickly brolien by the separation of the Contact arms 26 and 25, byreason of the movement of the armature 10 into operative engagement withthe oil-set portion 27 of the Iarm 26, but the armature, bell-clapperand associated pa 'ts are thereafter maintained in operative rela-- tionto the signal bell 2, because the spring 15 has been swung past centerto exert a thrust upon the bell-clapper toward the sig nal bell. Now,with the occurrence of a 'further con-traction of the thermostat spring45, the brush 47 is carried on into engagement with the contact 53. When`this happens, the current from the battery will liow and complete itscircuit through the parts and wiring .oit the lapparatus indicated bythe reference numerals 56, 75, 32, 3 7, 16, i?, is, 12,11, io, 27, 2c,as, c, a9, se and S1, thereby energizing the magnet 6 which will operateto pull the armature 10 toward the magnet 6, thereby moving the bellclapper 11 into striking engagement with the bell 2, the malte and breakdevice comprised by the arms 16 and 17 being operated by the vibrationot the arm 12 to cause the continued sounding of the signal bell 2.

Il it is desired to stop the ringing of the signal bell 2 by manualoperation, the push button switch 70 is actuated, whereby a circuit isclosed through the`battery 72, the current flowing through the parts andwiring ot the apparatus indicated by the reference numerals 73, 78, 64,71, 70, 71, 69, 79, 76, 35, 44, 29, 30, 42, 7, 43, 36 and 81, therebyenergizing the magnet 7, which will operate to pull the armature 10toward the right, thus withdrawing the bell clapper 11 from ringingrelation to the signal bell 2, the spring 15 being swung to the right,so as, JP01 retain ,the bell dapper in .ringing relallO tion to thesignal bell 4. The circuit. thus established is quickly broken by theseparation of the contact arms 29 and 30 by reason of the movement ofthe armature 10 into operative relation with the off-set portion 31 ofthe arm 30. This same result is obtained automatically by reason of afurther drop in temperature of the heating unit, which causes thethermostat spring 45 to further contract, thereby carrying the brush 47into Contact with the contact point 54 so that the battery circuit isclosed through the wire 76 as aforesaid. Continued fall of tem` peratureunder such circumstances will cause further contraction of thethermostat spring 45, whereby the brush 47 will contact with the contactpoint thus closing the battery circuit through the parts and wiresindicated by the reference numerals 59, 77, ai, 41, 19,20, el, ie, ii,i0, si, se, 42, 7, 43, 36 and 81, thereupon again energizing the magnet7 to produce the ringing of the large signal bell 4, the make and breakdevices 19, 20, and 21 operating to cause continued ringing of the saidsignal bell.

If the dampers of the heating unit are closed either manually or byautomat-ic operationy (so that the heating unit may be said to beidling, that is, the consumption of fuel while proceeding is takingplace slowly), then the damper controlled switch device will be actuatedin such a manner that the primary switch arm 61 will be moved or swungoutward. In so moving outward said primary switch arm 61 contacts withthe contact arms 66, at first without moving the secondary switch arm 62out of engagement with the contact arms 66, thus closing a circuitthrough the battery by Way of the parts and wires indicated by thereference numerals 73, 78, 64, 61, 66, 62, 65, 80, 33, 40, 25, 26, 33,6, 39, 36 and 81, thus energizing the magnet. 6 to bring the bellclapper into ringing relation to the bell 2, if not already so disposed;this would occur if the dampers of the heating unit were only partiallyclosed. If the dampers of the heating unit are entirely closed, theprimary switch arm 61 is swung out still farther, so that it will engagethe insulation button 63 of the secondary switch arm 62 to swing thelatter out, thus disengaging the secondary switch arm 62 as well as theprimary switch arm 61 from' the contact arms 66, and bringing theprimary switch arm 61 into engagement with the contact arms 67. Whenthis occurs the circuit is closed by way of the parts and wiresindicated by the reference characters 73, 7s, 64., 6i, 67, 69, 79, 76,35, 44, 29, 3o, 42, 7, 43, 36 and 81, thus energizing the magnet 7 tobring the bell clapper into ringing relation to the bell 4. It will thusbe apparent that the damper controlled switch will so control the signalmechanism, that it will automatically set the bell clapper to initiallyoperate the signal bell 2, when the dampers are open and the heatingunit required fuel, or will set the bell clapper in ringing relation tothe signal bell 4, when the dampers are closed and the heating unit isidling but requires more fuel.

It will also be understood that when the dampers are closed, althoughthe thermostat spring 45 is expanded, the damper controlled switch beingin the last described position, the small signal bell will not ring uponcontraction ot the thermostat spring, since the circuits leading fromthe contact points 53 is opened by the disengagement of the secondaryswitch arm 62 from the contact arms 66, and consequently the bell clapper will be retained or moved toward the right and only the large signalbell. 4 will be rung when the brush 47 engages the contact point 58.

From the above description it will be understood that my inventionprovides a means for automatically giving two distiuet audible signalseorreslvimiding to certain just-able toward and away from each other,

thereby permitting the apparatus to be adjusted for proper relation tothe heating effects produced by the particular heating unit'with whichitis associated.

I am aware that some changes may be made in the mechanical andelectrical arrangements and combinations of the several devices andparts, as well as in the details of the construction thereof, withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as set forth in the foregoingspecification, and as defined in the appended claims. Hence, I do notlimit my invention to the exact. arrangements and combinations of thedevices and parts as described in said specification, nor do I limitmyself to the exact details of the construction of said parts, asillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

I claim 1. In an apparatus of the kind described, a pair of signalbells, an electromagnet corresponding to each bell, a common armatureintermediate said electro-magnets, a bell clapper supported by saidarmature, a plurality of electric circuits through said electromagnets,certain of said circuits operl ating to selectively set the bell clapperin ringing relation to one or the other of said bells, other of saidcircuits serving as ringing circuits, automatic means for interruptingthe setting circuits when the clapper attains a desired position, saidringing circuits including automatic make and break devices, and athermostatic switch having fixed contact points respectively included inthe several circuits whereby said. circuits are closed according topredetermined ei'- fects upon the movable element or" said thermostaticswitch.

2. In an apparatus of. the kind described, a pair ot signal bells, anelectromagnet corresponding' to each bell, a common armatureintermediate said electromagnets, a bell clapper supported by saidarmature, a` plurality of electric circuits through said elec--tromagnets, certain of said circuits operating to selectively set thebell clapper in ringing relation to one or the other ot said bells,other ot said circuits serving as ringing circuits, automatic means forinterrupting the setting circuits when the clapper'attains a desiredposition, said ringing circuits including automatic make and breakdevices, a thermostatic switch having fined contact points respectivelyincluded in the several circuits whereby said circuits are closedaccording to predetermined effects upon the movable element of saidthermostatic switch, and a damper controlled switch means connected insaid setting circuits for selectivelv closing said setting circuitsaccording to the damper position of a heating unit with which theapparatus is employed.

3. ln an apparatus of the kind described, a pair ot signal bells, anelectromagnet corresponding to each bell, a common armature intermediatesaid electron'iagnets, a bell clapper supported by said armature, aplurality ot electric circuits through said electromagnets, certain ofsaid circuits operating to selectively set the clapper in ringingrelation to one or the other of said bells, other ot said circuitsserving as ringing circuits` automatic means for interrupting the.setting circuits when the clapper attains a desired position, saidringing circuits including` automatic make and break devices` a.thermostatic switch having fixed contact points respectively included inthe several. circuits whereby said circuits are closed according topredetermined e'ects upon the movable element of said thermostaticswitch, a damper controlled switch means connected in said settingcircuits for selectively closing sai-d setting circuits according to thedamper position of a heating unit with which the apparatus is employed,and means for manually short circuiting one of said setting circuits.

4. ln an apparatus of the kind described, a pair of signal bells, anelectromagnet corresponding to each bell, a common armature intermediatesaid magnets, a bell clapper carried by said armature, a bell ringingcircuit including a make and break device for each bell and operatingrespectively through the respective magnets, a setting circuit for eachbell also operating respectively through the respect-ive magnets, eachsetting circuit including means actuated by the mechanical engagement ofsaid armature therewith for breaking the setting circuit upon thecompletion ci the setting move-ment ot' said armature, and athermostatic switch means haring stationary contact points connectedrespectively in the setting and ringing circuits.

5. In an apparatus of the kind described, a pair of signal bells, anelectromagnet corresponding to each bell, a common armature intermediatesaid magnets, a bell clapper carried by said armature, a bell ringingcircuit including a make and break device or each bell and operatingrespectively through the respective magnets, a setting circuit for eachbell also operating respectively through the respective magnets, eachsetting circuit including means actuated by the mechanical engagement ofsaid armature therewith for breaking the setting circuit upon thecompletion of the setting movement of said armature, a thermostaticswitch means having stationary contact points connected respectively inthe setting and ringing circuits, and a damper controlled switch meansfor automatically and selectively closing one or the other of saidsetting circuits according to the open or closed position of the draft-sof a heatingv unit with which the apparatus is employed.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereuntoset my hand this 20th day of June, 1922.

PAUL H. MINTON. Vrlit'n esses WILLIAM STEvnNsON, A. S. KrnKPATRrcK.

